January 5, 2024 | 7:40pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
GUENTZEL COULD WAIT TO ADDRESS CONTRACT
Jake Guentzel, forward
With William Nylander and the Toronto Maple Leafs making progress in their contract negotiations and taking over some of the national headlines this week, some of the NHL’s other top forwards eligible to become unrestricted free agents in July are also due for significant raises in the near future.
Among them are Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel, who is in the final year of a five-year, $30 million contract.
Guentzel, 29, currently leads the Penguins with 43 points and is due a hefty raise over the $6 million he is earning this season.
While Guentzel remains one of Pittsburgh’s top assets, negotiations on an extension have not yet gotten underway, according to TFP’s David Pagnotta.
On Friday evening, during “NHL Tonight” on NHL Network,” Pagnotta reported contract talks between the Penguins and Guentzel’s camp are quiet and the star forward wants to have a clearer picture on the future of the club before committing long-term.
“As much as he loves it in Pittsburgh and has built chemistry, both on and off the ice, with Sidney Crosby, I can tell you right now no contract negotiations have taken place between the Penguins and Guentzel’s camp and agent Ben Hankinson,” Pagnotta said. “It’s kind of status quo at the moment.
“My understanding is that Guentzel is comfortable waiting this out. He wants to understand and have a clearer picture as to what the future, both short- and long-term, of the Pittsburgh Penguins is going to be if he does sign a long-term extension with the club, be it a six-, seven-, eight-year deal.”
The Penguins have just over $18 million in salary cap space next season and signing Guentzel could eat up around half of that if he stays in Pittsburgh. But it appears, barring a major offer from Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, the plan is to wait until the off-season before getting fully engaged in the negotiation process.
“Don’t be surprised if things get pushed to the off-season before things start to get significant between the Penguins and Guentzel’s camp,” Pagnotta added. “Now, that’s not to say the Penguins can’t turn around and present him with an offer that’s just too good to refuse, but as of today’s he’s going to wait things out and then see how this team not only performs this season, but then get a better understanding of what the direction is before he commits long-term.”